Draft rigging



Sept. 5, 1933. D. s. BARRows DRAFT RIGGING Filed Sept. 27, 1928 FIG.1

Donald S. Barro Ws Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNirso STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAFT RIGGING Application September 27, 1928 Serial No. 308,652

12 Claims.

This invention relates to railway draft rigging and more particularly to a novel form of front follower adapted to permit vertical angling of the associated coupler.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide a two piece articulated front follower adapted to normally abut the rear surface of an associated coupler with either a rigid or swivel butt shank, whereby vertical angling of said coupler to a limited extent is permitted.

Another object of my invention is to provide a front follower adapted for use with railway draft rigging and formed as front and rear halves with cylindrical bearing surfaces for permitting vertical angling therebetween, the bearing surfaces on the front half being convex and those on the rear half being concave.

A further object of my invention is to provide an articulated follower formed with intercalated loops on the front and rear portions thereof, said loops being provided with registering horizontal slots adapted to receive an associated draft key for holding said follower in place and connecting the parts together.V

A still further object of my invention is to provide a front follower in two parts with adequate curved bearing areas therebetween for properly transmitting the usual buning forces received from the associated coupler while at the same time permitting a limited amount of vertical angling therebetween.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a partial plan and partial horizontal sectional View of my front follower, the associated draft rigging being diagrammatically illustrated in dot and dash lines.

Figure 2 is a partial side elevation and partial vertical sectional view of the front follower illustrated in Figure 1, portions of the associated draft rigging being also diagrammatically illustrated in dot and dash lines.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the front half or portion of the follower. p

Figure Il is a perspective view of the rear half or portion of the front follower.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, there is shown diagrammatically the shank portion 1 of a coupler 2, said shank or stem portion being illustrated as of the swivel butt type and involving a swivel block 3 pivotally connected to the rigid portion 1 of the coupler by means of a pivot pin or pins 4 so that horizontal angling of said coupler is permitted. It will be'understood, however, that I do not wish to be limited to this showing, as if desired, a rigid shank coupler may be employed, as well as other forms.

Extending through the slot 5 in the stem or shank of the coupler 2 is a horizontal draft key 6 diagrammatically illustrated, which serves to connect said coupler with a horizontal yoke 7. Positioned rearwardly of the coupler stem or swivel block portion 3 thereof is a front follower 8 slotted for receiving a second or rear key 9 which key passes through corresponding slots inthe arms of the yoke for connection therewith. It will be seen that the arrangement of the coupler, yoke and front follower is in accordance with the usual practice for Farlow two key draft rigging.

The front follower 8 in the present embodiment comprises a front portion or half l0 and a rear 0 portion or half 11, said portions being articulated with respect to each other and connected by the associated second key 9. In order to provide the proper area for transmitting bufling forces from the front portion 10 to the rear portion 11, said front portion is formed with rearwardly extending portions provided with convex bearing surfaces 12, 13, 14 and 15, normally engaging corresponding concave bearing surfaces 16, 17, 18 and 19 on the rear portion 11 of the follower. Said surfaces are preferably cylindrical about a hori- Zontal axis corresponding with the curved front ends of the slots 20 inthe front portion 10 of the follower 8 for receiving the connecting key 9. It will be seen, thereforethat vertical angling or articulation of the front half l0 of the follower 8 with respect to the rear half 11 is permitted about the front edge of the associated draft key 9.

In order that the draft key 9 may serve to not only transmit forces from the rearwardly disposed cushioning mechanism, diagrammatically indicated at 21 by dot and dash lines, to the associated cheek plates (not shown) and side sills (not shown) of the car, but also to connect the parts 10 and 11 of the front follower, the front part 10 is preferably formed with a rearwardly extending loop 22 slotted for receiving the key 9, said slot being preferably dared rearwardly or increasing in width rearwardly, as indicated at 23, to permit the desired angling of said member 10. The rear member 11 is likewise provided with forwardly extending loops or slotted flanges 24 and 25 which are intercalated with or embrace the flange or loop 22 and are likewise provided with slots 2S and 27 to receive the associated draft key 9. It will be apparent, therefore, that the draft key 9 is adapted to extend through the slots 23, 26 and 27 and connect the parts 10 and 11 against longitudinal separation, while at the same time permitting vertical angling therebetween to the desired extent.

When draft forces are applied to the coupler 2, said coupler is pulled away from the follower 8 and vertical angling thereof ispermitted about the connecting key 6, as will be understood. If a swivel butt coupler, as illustrated, is used, of

course horizontal angling is also permitted sc that universal angling on draft is provided for.

Upon the application of bufiing forces to the coupler 2 said forces are transmitted from the butt of the coupler-to the front preferably substantially flat face of the front portion 10 of the follower through the bearing areas 12, 1?,v 14 and 15 to the cooperating bearing areas 16, 17, 18 and 19 on the rear portion 11 of the follower and from said rear portion llto'V the associated cushioning mechanism 2l." Vertical angling of said coupler Y is permitted by the play of the connecting key 6 in the slot 5 in said coupler and upon angling of said coupler corresponding angling of the front portion 10 ofl the follower upon the rear portion 11 thereof takes place about the axis of the bearing surfaces between the front and rear portions of said follower. ASaid angling is permitted by having the slot 23 in the connectingloop 22 o n the front portion flared or increasing in width rearwardly, as illustrated particularly in Figures 2 and 3. Not only isfthe slot in the loop Aportion 22,50 flared, but as illustrated particularly "in Figure 3, the partial slots or notches 20 in the bearing flanges or portions providing the bearing edges 12, 13, 14 and 15 are correspondingly ared.

From the foregoing it will be clear that I have invented a two-piece articulated follower which may have-a length only slightly greater than the supporting key 9, corresponding with a standard or one-piece front follower and be adapted to permit vertical angling of an associated coupler and, if a swivel block coupler is used, universal angling thereof. Although I have shown said follower associated with a particular form of draft rigging, I do not wish to be limited to such combination. The front and rear halvesY of the follower provide cylindrical, respectively, convex and concave bearing. surfaces which are of such area that theyprovide for the proper transmission of the desired buiiing forces between the coupler and the associated draft gear. Intercalated loops or slotted vertically disposed webs or anges are provided for receiving the second or rear draft key, thereby serving not only for the support of the follower but also for connecting the parts together without interfering with the vertical angling pro- I .vided for therebetween. v Y

` Having thus described my invention, `I claim:

.1. In railway draft rigging, a coupler, a yoke, a front follower, a key connecting said coupler and yoke and a second lkey connecting Said follower and yoke, said follower being formedl in two parts adapted-for vertical angling with respect to one another, one of said parts having a rearwarda front follower comprising two pieces articulated for vertical angling with respect to each other, a key connecting said coupler and yoke, and another connecting said follower and yoke, said second key passing through slots in alternately intercalated portions of the pieces of the follower and serving to hold them together.

3. In railway draft rigging, a coupler, a yoke, a front follower comprising front and rear p0rtions interlocking with one another, said front portion being formed with convex cylindrical bearing surfaces and the rear portion being formed with correspondingly curved concave cylindrical bearing surfaces permitting vertical angling between the parts, a key connecting said coupler and yoke, and another connecting said follower land yoke and extending through parts of both portions of said follower.

4. In railway draft rigging, a coupler, a yoke, a front follower comprising front and rear portions formed with intercalated vertically disposed loops having horizontal registering slots, a key .connecting said coupler and yoke, and another said coupler and yoke, and another connectingv said follower and yoke.

6. A front follower comprising front and rear portions each slotted for receiving a supporting draft key and formed with engaging cylindrical bearing surfaces, those on the front portion being convex and those on therearportion conca ve, said bearing surfaces being coaxial with the axis disposed horizontally for permitting vertical angling between the parts.

"1. A follower adapted for use with railway 125i ldraft rigging comprising a front portion with a substantially flat frontsurface adapted to be engaged by the butt of an associated vcoupler and a rearwardly extending vertical loop, a longitudinally aligned rear portion with a forwardly extending loop, said loops being formed with horizontal slots for receiving an associated draft key adapted to connect the parts together.

8. A follower adapted for use with railway draft rigging comprising a front portion with a rearwardly extending vertical loop, a rear portion with a forwardly extending loop, said loops being formed with horizontal slots for receiving an associated draft key adapted to connect the parts together, theY front portion being 1357 formed with'convex cylindrical bearing surfaces and the rear portion being formed with correspondingly Vcurved concave bearing surfaces normally engaged by the convex surfaces, the axis of saidbearing surfaces corresponding approximately with the front ends of the draft key receivingl slots.

9'. A follower` adapted for use with 'railwayu draft rigging comprising a. front portion with a rearwardly extending vertical loop, a rear portion-with a forwardly extending vertical loop,

said loops having longitudinal slots therethrough Y for receiving an associated draft key adapted to connect said front and rear portions, one of said portions having a convex cylindricalV bearing 15@ surface, and the other portion having acorrespondingly curved concave cylindrical bearing surface normally engaged by the convex surface on the other part for permitting vertical angling therebetween.

10. A two-piece articulated device adapted to function as a front follower in railway draft rigging and provide for angling of an associated coupler, said device comprising portions intercalated with respect to each other and having registering slots for receiving a connecting and positioning horizontal draft key, said device being only slightly longer than said slots.

ll. A front follower adapted for disposition between the butt of an associated coupler and the front of associated cushioning mechanism between the arms of an associated yoke and formed as two parts adapted for vertical angling with respect to one another, said parts having overlapping portions slotted for receiving a at horizontal draft key, one of said slots being dened by aring sides to allow for relative angling between the parts, said follower having an overall length only slightly longer than the length of said slots.

12.`A follower adapted for use with railway draft rigging and formed of two parts slotted to receive a conventional horizontal connecting draft key and of an overall assembled length only slightly longer than the Width of said key, said parts being articulated for vertical angling with respect to one another.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

